Coffee

So Much More Than a Morning Drink

Once you've enjoyed your coffee, don't be too quick to throw away the grounds. At Earthkeepers, used coffee grounds are given another purpose throughout the garden, home and kitchen.

From enriching compost and conditioning soil to absorbing unwanted odours, cleaning and even personal care, there are plenty of ways to make use of something that would otherwise be thrown away.

Coffee in the Garden

Compost Bin

Save your used coffee grounds until you have approximately two cups.

Mix the grounds with four cups of water and place the mixture into a small watering can.

As you build the layers of your compost heap, add the liquid coffee-ground mixture to three of the layers in the centre of the pile.

Coffee grounds contain nitrogen that is released slowly, allowing the compost mixture to act as a slow-release fertiliser once added to the garden.

Coffee grounds also contain other minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, zinc and potassium.

Soil Conditioner

Add used coffee grounds to your garden beds to help condition the soil.

At Earthkeepers, coffee grounds are used as a soil conditioner in a similar way to peat moss.

Seed Raising Mix

Add two tablespoons of used coffee grounds to a tray of seed-raising mix.

Dead Lawn Patches

Spread a shovel-load of coffee compost over dead patches in the lawn.

Sprinkle with lawn seed and water well.

Coffee & Eggshell Fertiliser

Place clean, dry eggshells into a blender and process them into a coarse powder.

Combine:

½ cup eggshell powder
½ cup used coffee grounds

Mix together thoroughly.

Using a large spoon, make small holes around the plant and spoon the fertiliser into them. Backfill with soil, water the plant and finish with a very light layer of mulch.

Acid-Loving Plants

Mix coffee grounds with sugar cane mulch, dry grass or straw.

Spread the mixture around acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas and camellias.

Pest & Pet Repellent

Spread used coffee grounds around plants that snails and slugs like to eat, or around plants your cat likes to rub against.

Citrus Trees & Strawberries

Mix chopped pine needles with used coffee grounds and use the mixture as mulch around citrus trees and strawberries.

Water it in after applying.

Coffee & Worm Farms

Coffee grounds can also be added to vermiculture systems.

Worms can digest the bacteria attracted to the coffee grounds as they break down. As the worms produce rich compost, the coffee grounds can assist with the digestion of other material they have consumed.

Around the Home

Before using coffee grounds for absorbing odours and some household purposes, Earthkeepers dries them first.

Drying Used Coffee Grounds

Set your oven to a low heat.

Spread the used coffee grounds over a metal tray and bake until dry — approximately 15–20 minutes or longer if required.

Allow them to cool before using or storing.

Fridge Odours

Place dried coffee grounds into a small bowl and leave it at the back of the fridge for several weeks to absorb unwanted odours.

Freezer Odours

Place dried coffee grounds into an old sock and tie the open end securely.

Leave it in the freezer for several weeks to absorb odours.

Freshening the Car

A sock filled with dried coffee grounds can also be placed inside the car to help absorb damp or cigarette smells.

Smelly Shoes

Place a coffee-filled sock inside each shoe and leave for several hours to help remove unwanted smells.

Coffee Around the House

Candlelight Coffee Aroma

Place stale coffee beans into a glass dish and position a candle in the centre.

When the candle is lit, the warmth helps create the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

At Christmas, whole cloves can be mixed through the coffee beans for a spiced festive aroma.

Cleaning Around a Wood Fire

Before cleaning dusty ash from a fireplace, sprinkle approximately two cups of used coffee grounds over the ash.

Leave for around three minutes before cleaning.

The coffee grounds help prevent the fine ash from becoming airborne while you clean.

Staining Wood

Combine one cup of fresh coffee grounds with one cup of boiling water in a saucepan.

Reduce the heat and gently boil for approximately 30 minutes.

Allow the mixture to cool before applying it to timber.

For a darker finish, make a cup of instant coffee, allow it to cool and apply it as a second coat.

Ants

Pour strongly brewed coffee over an ant hill. Earthkeepers uses this method to encourage the ants to relocate.

Coffee in the Kitchen

Meat Rub

Combine:

1 tablespoon coffee grounds
1 tablespoon coarse salt
2 cloves garlic, minced

Mix together and rub onto red meat or chicken before cooking.

Pots & Pans

Coffee grounds can also be used as an abrasive when cleaning greasy pots and pans.

Dip a cloth into the coffee grounds and use it to scrub the greasy surface.

Health & Beauty

Cook's Hands

Garlic, onions and strongly scented herbs can leave lingering smells on your hands.

Keep a sealed container of dried coffee grounds near the kitchen sink.

Dampen your hands, place approximately one tablespoon of coffee grounds into your palm and rub your hands together for a few minutes.

Rinse with warm water.

Coconut & Coffee Hand Scrub

Combine:

1 cup coconut oil
1 cup dried coffee grounds
1 cup coarse sea salt

Mix thoroughly.

Rub a small amount into your hands to help remove dirt and grease.

Facial Cleanser

Combine one tablespoon of honey with one tablespoon of coffee grounds.

Apply gently to the face and leave for 5–10 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

The original Earthkeepers article also suggests adding a small amount of lemon juice for oily or sweaty skin. Because lemon juice can irritate some skin, I'd leave that optional detail off the new website unless Judith particularly wants to retain it.

Coffee Hair Rinse

Brew a pot of coffee and allow it to cool to room temperature.

Wash and towel-dry your hair, then pour the coffee over the hair and gently massage it through the scalp.

Wrap the hair in a towel, leave for approximately 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Making the Most of What We Have

Something as ordinary as leftover coffee grounds can have another life long after the coffee has been enjoyed.

Whether they're being added to the compost, used around the garden, helping absorb odours or put to work around the home, reusing coffee grounds is another simple way of making the most of the resources already available to us.